Girl Names Starting with F

Well-Known and Rare First Names Starting with F

• Fabienne: The French variant of Fabiana. The name traces back to the Roman family name Fabius; the Latin root word means "bean".
• Fanny: Documented as an English short form of Frances, the equivalent of Franziska.
• Farah: An Arabic first name with the verified meaning of "joy" or "happiness".
• Fatima: An Arabic first name. It traces back to the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and directly translates to "she who weans".
• Faye: A name from the English and French language areas. It traces back to the Old French "fae" (fairy) or the Latin "fides" (faith, trust).
• Fee: This short first name is often directly associated with the mythical fairy. However, it is also documented as a short form of Felicitas or Felizitas.
• Felicitas: A Latin first name. It means "good fortune" or "fertility" and traces back to the Roman goddess of the same name.
• Felina: The exact historical origin is not definitively clarified. A common interpretation links it to the Latin "felis" (cat), but the name can also be an independent development of Felicitas.
• Femke: A Frisian and Dutch first name. It is often interpreted as "little girl", but is also considered a short form of names beginning with "Fried-".
• Fenna: A Frisian first name documented as a short form of ancient Germanic names containing the element "fridu" (peace).
• Filippa: The feminine form of Philipp. The Greek root is composed of "philos" (friend) and "hippos" (horse).
• Finja: Finja is likely explained as a feminine formation from Finn. Finn has both an Irish and an independent Nordic name history. Which of these Finja is based on is not definitively established; “the Finnish woman” is therefore not a universally valid translation.
• Fiona: The name was invented in the 18th century by Scottish poet James Macpherson. It is based on the Gaelic word "fionn", which means "white" or "fair".
• Flavia: Traces back to the Roman family name of the Flavians. The Latin root word "flavus" means "blonde" or "yellow".
• Fleur: A French first name that derives directly from the French word for "flower".
• Flora: A Latin first name. In Roman mythology, Flora was the goddess of flowers and spring.
• Florentine: Traces back to the Latin name Florentius. The root word "florens" means "blooming".
• Franka: An Old High German first name. It means "the Frankish woman" or, in a broader sense, "the free one".
• Franziska: The feminine form of Franziskus. Here, too, the meaning "the woman from the tribe of the Franks" is documented.
• Freya: A name from Norse mythology, where she is the goddess of love. The Old Norse root word means "lady".
• Frida: An Old High German first name. The root word "fridu" means "peace" or "protection". A common spelling variant is Frieda.
• Friederike: A traditional German name. It is composed of the Old High German elements "fridu" (peace) and "rihhi" (rich, powerful, ruler).

Special Features of the Initial Letter F: Ph Variants and Soft Sounds

An important aspect of girl names starting with F is the alternative spelling with "Ph". Names like Filippa or Felicitas are occasionally also spelled Philippa or Phelicitas, even though the latter is very rare. For names like Frida or Frieda, the question of the lengthening "e" often arises as well.

Consider which spelling feels more natural to you and how often your child might have to spell the name later on. If you are unsure about the spelling, you can bookmark different variants as favorites in the HeyName app and rate them independently of each other. Names you have both marked as favorites will then appear as your mutual matches.

Also pay attention to the transition to the last name. If the first name ends with an F and the last name begins with an F or V (for example, "Elif Vogel"), the sounds easily blur together when spoken. This is not a dealbreaker, but it should be tested by saying it out loud.

The Next Step in Finding a Name

Take your time to let the different first names starting with F sink in. Say your favorites out loud in combination with your last name. That way, you will quickly notice whether the rhythm feels right to you. If you are considering middle names, write down the full combination to check the appearance and the initials. Discuss your shortlist together and narrow it down systematically until you find the first name that suits your family.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

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